Garwood's St. Anne's Church to Kick Off Christmas Season with Choir
It's called the Messiah Sing and it's become an annual tradition in the area. The Choral Art Society of New Jersey will perform at St. Anne's Church on Friday December 2nd at 8pm. The Choir will be accompanied by the church's newly renovated pipe organ. Organizers say audience members are invited to bring scores and join in the singing of both choruses and solo sections or simply come to listen. Admission is $10. For information about the Choral Art Society, check casofnj.org or call 908-654-5737.
COME SING ALONG!
Thanksgiving in Garwood Means Shopping Local with Thy Neighbors
For much of the year holiday shoppers leave Garwood, maybe trekking to Downtown Westfield or beyond. But, come Thanksgiving Garwood is King. Neighbors from Westfield and Cranford flock to the borough's food stores. Kings, ShopRite and Pathmark are jammed with "once a year" foodies. Shopping Local is easy to do on Thanksgiving, but, learn to love the additional company. Eat well and enjoy time with your friends and family. Happy Thanksgiving from the Bread Basket of Union County!
GWOOD IS TURKEY DAY
Garwood Commuters Get First Look at New Rail Map
NJ Transit recently unveiled a new rail system map to replace the decades old version that had graced station platforms and rail cars. The new map still uses ORANGE to denote Garwood's Raritan Valley Line. The new map is not to scale like the old one making Garwood look much closer to Manhattan than it actually is. Maybe that will help home values! Only time will tell.
GWOOD INCHES CLOSER TO NYC
Anniversary: Garwood's 'Steel Beast' Removed 2 Years Ago
It was on a clear November day that the century old water tower at the Aeolian Plant was erased from the skies over Garwood. That day was November 17th, 2009- 2 years ago. The tower had stood in the borough since 1900. Back in 2009, 365 asked in an online poll whether residents thought the Water Tower was the Eiffel Tower of Garwood. The Tower got a mixed response in that poll, 53% said it was a landmark for the borough, while 46% said no. At the time 1 reader suggested sprucing it up and painting Garwood on it. In covering the dismantling project the Star Ledger referred to the Tower as a "hulking landmark" but, said its fate for demolition was set when borough officials complained of its decaying appearance and fretted about concerns for safety. While many it town did love the historic structure, Mayor Dennis McCarthy called it “an eyesore.” And the borough clerk, Christina Ariemma, called it "useless" in an article in the Cranford Chronicle. Despite the maligning from officials 365 received a reader submitted poem entitled Goodbye Water Tower. In it the anonymous writer called the tower a "Steal Beast" and remarked on its importance to the borough and its metaphorical connection to America's once powerful manufacturing sector.
Untitled Poem
The steel beast built tall and strong, a service to the industry it once belonged. The safety of the workers so they won’t be wronged, was the Garwood water tower.
One hundred years ago it was raised from the surface to stand watch. Yet stayed on beyond the life of the plant it looked after. It lived there with no apparent purpose ‘cept to be a structure that we all came to know and yet not really acknowledge what it accomplished in the past. The plant and tower now sleep together.
It was a symbol of America’s might. With products made and always right. Stood tall thru day and night, within the sight of all residents below.
It was the Garwood Water Tower.
There comes a time, when we stop looking back, the cherished thoughts still within our minds. Yet the march of time always changes things, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worse, but change we must call progress, none the less. The proud strength that once was will never be. Piece by piece, it returns to earth. We must say goodbye to a friend we never really knew, but was always quietly there.
We must say good bye.
-anonymous
LANDMARK REMEMBERED!
Garwood's 8th Grade Class to Stage Guys and Dolls at Lincoln School
The graduating class at Lincoln School will hit the stage to perform Guys and Dolls (not Beauty and the Beast...oops). The show will take place on the Lincoln Auditorium on the Northside on November 18th and 19th.
8TH GRADE PLAY!
Small Business Saturday Returns to Garwood this Month
It's an initiative sparked by an American Express advertising campaign, but, it's a worthy cause that hopefully has the potential to catch-on. For the second year Small Business Saturday is being promoted as way to support local merchants in towns across the country. American Express is asking consumers to shop local on November 26th by spending money at their favorite local stores and help fuel the economy. The credit card company says it best: "When we all shop small, it will be huge." The small business ad campaign was launched last year. Shop Local!
SMALL BIZ SATURDAY!
Garwood Hosts Veterans Day Ceremony and Memorial Dedication
For the first time in at least 3 years Garwood held a ceremony to mark Veterans Day on Friday. Garwood officials used the day to dedicate the borough's new Purple Heart Memorial at Georgiana Gurrieri Memorial Park. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the armed forces, or their families, when a service member is wounded or killed. Garwood doesn't typically hold a ceremony to commemorate Veterans Day. To those who have served: A Sincere Thank You.
GARWOOD SALUTES VETS
NJ's Anti-Bully Law: A Year Old Measure in Garwood
Reacting to high profile incidents of bullying New Jersey's lawmakers passed a tough bill in November of 2010. Since then much of the burden on anti-bullying measures has been put on local teachers and school administrators. Some of the toughest wording in the new bill included disciplinary action for administrators who fail to take action when bullying takes place. School employees are also mandated to file a written report with principals within two days of observing or being made aware of an act of bullying, according the bill.
BULLY LAW TURNS 1
Democrats Retain Their Garwood Council Seats
Garwood voters have re-elected Democratic incumbents Sara Todisco and Louis Petruzzelli. The two beat Republicans challengers Carol Ann Kearney and Steven Blaufeder.
BOARD OF ELECTION RESULTS:
Petruzzelli: 505 votes
Todisco: 486 votes
Kearney: 384 votes
Blaufeder: 362 votes
Garwood Voters Head to the Polls
Election Day 2011 pits Republican and Democratic Council candidates against each other. Borough voters are being asked to pick two candidates at the polls. It's an important election for local Democrats who need a win to retain a viable presence in the Borough Council. Polls open up at 6am and stay open until 8pm. If you have trouble voting or have questions contact the Union County Board of Elections: 908-527-4121.
DEMOCRATS FOR COUNCIL:
(D) Louis Petruzzelli
(D) Sara Todisco
REPUBLICANS FOR COUNCIL:
(R) Carol Kearney
(R) Steven Blaufeder
Garwood Public School Full of Schedule Changes in November
Students must really love November. There are a ton of days off and a slew of half days. The first days off are for a teacher's in-service and convention. Lincoln School will be closed November 10th and 11th for that purpose, according to the district's website. Parent-Teacher conferences also take place this month. The meetings are scheduled for various times during the day to accommodate the busy schedules of parents. November 17th Lincoln will have a delayed opening for morning sessions, on November 18th and 21st students will be dismissed early for afternoon conferences, and finally on November 22nd there will be another early dismissal for evening meetings with parents.
And that's not all, of course, school will be closed on November 24th and 25th for Thanksgiving, with an early dismissal planned for November 23rd. Arthur L. Johnson High School students also have off for Election Day on November 8th.
DAYS OFF=HAPPY KIDS!
Garwood Pizzeria Posts Online Commercial
It's a trend that's spreading to many business owners. Local merchants are posting their own commercials on You Tube, instead of spending money to put them on the airwaves. Roma Pizzeria is the latest establishment in town to advertise online. The Northside pizzeria's ad can be found on You Tube. Roma Pizzeria is the reigning 365 pizzeria champion, and leads in the polls in the 2011 contest. Remember: It's easy to Eat Local in Garwood!
ROMA ONLINE!
